Apparatus and method for tracking an all-in playing card game

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to track one or more all-in bets in a game with a standard deck of playing cards that includes a set of at least a first marker and a second marker, the first marker of the set of markers to identify an all-in pot a player is playing to win, the second marker of the set of markers to identify the player that is playing to win the all-in pot and at least one additional identifier on the first and second markers of the set to indicate that they are related to each other. There is also a method for tracking an all-in playing card game.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 12/605,352 filed on Oct. 25, 2009 and claimspriority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/605,352filed on Oct. 25, 2009 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus method formonitoring a playing card game. More specifically, the present inventionis an apparatus and method for monitoring an all-in playing card game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Card games have been used as a form of entertainment and gamblingthroughout history. Of all of them, Poker, Baccarat, and Blackjack areamong the most popular means of gambling in casinos. Even though theyeach follow their own set of rules, they are all based on a standarddeck of playing cards. The deck consists of fifty-two cards separatedinto four suits of clubs, spades, hearts, and diamonds.

In Poker the game requires that the cards receive ranks, with an Acehaving the highest rank and two the lowest. Suits or sets of a kind(spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs) are equal in value. The playerholding the highest hand wins. Some games use Wild Cards such as a Jokeror perhaps a two and the player can allocate their value as he/shedesires.

A poker hand consisting of five cards has the following ranking orderstarting with the highest rank and going to the lowest: Royal Flush,Straight Flush, Four of a kind, A Full House, A Flush, A Straight, Threeof a kind, Two Pair, Pair, and High Card. Royal Flush is composed of 10,Jack, Queen, King and Ace in the same suit. Straight Flush is composedof five cards that are in order and in the same suit. Four of a Kind iscomposed of four cards of the same rank. A full house is composed ofthree cards of a kind and a pair such as QQQAA. A flush is composed ofcards that are in the same suit. A straight is composed of five cards innumerical order such as 4-5-6-7-8 regardless of their rank. Three of akind is composed of three cards that are of the same rank and two cardsof different ranks. Two pair is composed of two distinct pairs of cardsand a fifth card. Pair is composed of two cards of the same rank plusthree cards of different ranks. High Card is composed of a hand which isnone of the previously mentioned ones.

In a game of Poker, players each start with a stake, which is the amountof the betting medium which each player has. The betting medium may besomething of value, such as cash, coins or chips which represent cashvalue or it could be any items such as: chips, toothpicks, matchsticksor sugar cubes that have no value and are simply be used to keep trackof the bets.

In a game of Poker, players may be required to put a bet into the potbefore the deal. This bet may be in the form of an ante or a blind. Ifthere is a bet (ante and/or blind) all players at the table have tomatch it. Any player who cannot match the bet would have to put all ofhis/her remaining stake in the pot and would be All-In. The dealer thendeals the first round of cards around the table. The number of cardsdealt, and whether they are face up or face down depends on the specificgame. Once each round of cards has been dealt the players are given theopportunity to: Check, Call, Bet, Raise, All-In or Fold. Once allplayers have acted, there is said to be no more action. If more than oneplayer remains in the hand the next round of cards are dealt. Once allof the cards have been dealt and all of the players have completed theaction, the hands are compared and the winner or winners are determinedand the pot or pots are awarded.

Play begins after each player has placed an initial bet, called the ante(if there is an ante), into the pot and or the blind or blinds (if thereare blinds) have been placed. The term pot refers to the totalaccumulation of wagers made during a particular game. The pot can bemade up of: the side pots (All-Ins) and the working pot (the remainingplayers pot). There may be a single pot and there can be as many potsare there are players minus one. The amount of money or stake which isused in the game varies and follows the following format. After the eachround of cards has been dealt, betting begins. Betting is done inclockwise order starting with the first player to the left of the dealer(or dealer button if there is a non-playing dealer) and each player mayhave the option to: Check, Call, Bet, Raise, All-In or Fold.

If a player bets, that bet must be matched (called), raised or All-In byeach player that wants to remain in the game. A raise includes matchingthe previous bet (calling the bet) and increasing the total bet (raise).A player who does not match a bet (call), raise or go All-In (betshis/her remaining stake), drops out of the hand (folds). A round ofbetting ends when either every player but one has folded, or when thehighest bet or raise has been called (or gone all-in) by each remainingplayer.

All-Ins occur when a player wants to call but doesn't have enough staketo match the current bet or raise or when a player bets all of his/herremaining stake. If only he/she and one other player are playing, nomore action is possible then the remaining cards are dealt and thewinner is determined. If however there are other players involved in thegame, a separate pot is created for each All-In and a pot is created(working pot) to hold the bets for the players who are not All-In. Thegame (betting) continues as usual in the working pot. When the hand isover, the player or players with the best hand win the working pot. Thenthe winner or winners of the working pot compares his/her hand with theplayer who went All-In. The best hand gets the All-In pot. If there ismore than one All-In pot, pots are resolved in the reverse order thatthey are created with the first created pot resolved last and lastcreated pot resolved first. When the hand is over if the All-In playerwins the All-In pot he/she remains in the game, otherwise he/she iseliminated from the game.

All-In betting occurs when a player bets all of his or her remainingstake.

-   -   A. All-In is less than the current bet or raise.    -   B. All-In is more than the current bet or raise.    -   C. Creating All-In pots.    -   D. Resolving All-In pots.

A. All-In is less than the current bet or raise.

When it is a player's turn to act and he or she wants to call thecurrent bet, but their total remaining stake is less than the bet, theyannounce that they are All-In and place all of their remaining stake astheir bet. Action continues around the table until all players have hadthe opportunity to act. Once there is no more action on the table,All-Ins pots and the new working pot are created. Note: There is notalways a working pot, and in games with a non-playing dealer, the dealerwill announce, who is in for each pot and that there is or is not aworking pot.

B. All-In is more than the current bet or raise.

When it is a player's turn to act and he or she wants to bet or raisethe current bet and their stake is greater than the current bet or raisethey may bet or raise to the maximum of their stake by going All-In.This becomes the current bet and all players must at least Call or goAll-In to stay in the hand. Once there is no more action on the table,All-Ins pots and the new working pot are created.

C. Creating All-In pots.

Once all players have acted the dealer gathers the players' bets andcreates the pot or pots prior to the next round of play. If there areany players All-In a pot must be created for each starting with thesmallest All-In first. An amount equal to the All-In bet is taken fromeach of the players who are still in the hand. This is added to theexisting pot. This now becomes the first side pot and is the pot thatthe first All-In player is playing for. An additional side pot iscreated for each All-In player going from the least amount All-In to thelargest amount All-In.

Once all of the All-In side pots are created if there is still a pot,this is the working pot and all of the remaining players are playing forit and the All-In side pots. The first All-In player is playing for thefirst side pot. Each additional All-In player is playing for his or herside pot and all of the pots created before his or her side pot.Remaining players in the hand are playing for all of the side pots andthe working pot. More than one player may be in for the exact same sidepot if they are All-In and had the exact amount of stake left when theywent All-In.

D. Resolving All-In pots.

All-In pots are resolved in the opposite order that they are created.

Once the last card has been dealt and all of the players have completedthe final betting round, the winner or winners must be determined. Ifthere are two or more players who still have a stake and are in the handthey are playing for the working pot and all of the side pots. They turnup their cards and a winner or winners of the working pot aredetermined. The winner or winners are awarded the working pot. Theplayer or players in the last created All-In side pot now turn up theircards and compare them with the winner or winners of the working pot.The winner or winners are awarded the All-In side pot. If there is morethan one All-In side pot the process continues with each All-In side potuntil all of the pots have been awarded.

It is clear from the above detailed description of All-In betting, thatAll-In betting can be very difficult to keep track of in a poker game.The prior art solution is to take a stack of chips from each All-In potand tip it toward the player who is in the All-In pot. It is up to theplayers and the dealer to know who is All-In and, what pot they areplaying for and in what order they went All-In.

What is needed is a method for tracking an all-in playing card game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosedan apparatus and method for tracking all-in bets in a game of poker witha set of at least a first marker and a second marker. The first markerof the set of markers identifies an all-in pot a player is playing for.The second marker of the set of markers identifies the player that isplaying for the all-in pot. There is at least one similar identifier onthe first and second markers of the set to indicate that they arerelated to each other.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed amethod of tracking all-in bets in a game of poker with a set of at leasta first marker and a second marker. The first marker of the set ofmarkers identifies an all-in pot a player is playing for. The secondmarker of the set of markers identifies the player that is playing forthe all-in pot. There is at least one similar identifier on the firstand second markers of the set to indicate that they are related to eachother.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of thepresent invention so that those skilled in the art may better understandthe detailed description of the invention that follows. Additionalfeatures of the invention will be described hereinafter that form thesubject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art shouldappreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception andspecific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present inventionand that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scopeof the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description, theappended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elementsare given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a set of pot and player markers that can be usedto identify at least one all in pot and at least one all in player, inaccordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for tracking an all-in playing cardgame, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention, however, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a set of pot and player markers that can be usedto identify at least one all-in pot and at least one all-in player, inaccordance with the principles of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a top view of a set of pot and playermarkers that can be used to identify at least one “all-in” pot and atleast one “all-in” player. A set of markers 10 that are individual andseparate members that can have a shape and size of a chip such as around disk 12 with a distinctive color such as white, black, red, blue,green, orange, or any color. The disk can also be striped with wavinglines, or have vertical, horizontal and/or diagonal stripes or lines ofcontrasting colors. The lines can be thick or thin, or the disk candisplay only two colors where each color occupies a portion of the diskwhere a portion is located in a circle, is pie shaped, and or is acircle within a circle. The shape of the marker can be a disk that hasthe size and shape of a chip, or it can have a diameter that is smalleror larger than a chip. The marker can be thinner or thicker than a chip.The marker can have a shape that is different than a disk shaped chipsuch as being square, rectangular, oval or any shape desired. Thus, themarker can have a shape, size and/or color, and any combination ofshape, size and/or color.

The markers 12 shown in FIG. 1 are shown as being disk shaped. A set ofmarkers consists of at least two markers having a common number such asthe number “1”, 14 on one or each side of the disk. It is understoodthat a letter of the alphabet or a distinctive mark of symbol can alsobe used. As there can be more than one all in player during a hand,there can be a plurality of pairs of markers 12A, 12B . . . 12N whereeach pair of markers are similar. As there can be more than a singleplayer that is all-in during a hand, each set of markers is not limitedto two similar markers, but can have at least two of more similarmarkers such as three or four or more 12NN up to at least one more thanthe expected number of players that are in a game.

During a game, each “all-in” pot will have its own marker. Thus, eachplayer and the dealer need only glance at the “all-in” pot(s) to knowwhich pot is “all-in”. The marker on the pot will have a correspondingmarker in front of the player of the “all-in” pot. It is not necessaryfor the dealer or any of the players to keep track of the “all-in” potsbecause both the pot and the player will have a marker.

When an “all-in” occurs, the player that is betting “all-in” has bet allof his/her chips. The dealer must now create an “all-in” pot for thatplayer and any other player that may be “all-in” on the same bettinground. The “all-in” player with the least amount of chips gets the“all-in” marker with the number “1”, or the lowest number on the marker,and the stack of chips being played also gets a maker with that numberon it.

“All-in” bets are created starting with the player with the leaseramount of chips first, then the others, one by one. Each stack of chipsand player get the next numbered marker. At the end of a hand thewinners are resolved in reverse order. If more than one player is all infor the same pot, each player gets a marker with the same number on it,or the next sequential marker is given to the player and the marker isalso on the pot to indicate, for example, that the pot with markers “2”and “3” means that the players with markers “2” and “3” are both playingfor the same all in pot.

The identification of “all-in” players and pots which is here disclosedsimplifies “all-in” pots and players by making it clear to the playersand the dealer who is in for each pot when an “all-in” situation occurs.

In an embodiment, the markers have identifiers such as numbers on one orboth sides. The markers can be the same size, weight and texture as thechips that are being used in the game. A minimum of two markers havesimilar numbers, and there can be as many numbers as there are playersat a table minus one. The dealer keeps the markers when not in use andplaces them on top of the pot that is all-in and in front of the playersthat are all-in for that pot. The dealer retrieves the “all-in” markeras the pots are resolved.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method 200 for tracking an all-in playingcard game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The method 200 steps include completing a round of betting 210,determining if one or more betting players are All-In players 220,placing a first marker type and any subsequent first marker types infront of the All-In player with a smallest bet 230, determining if thereis a working pot 240, placing a corresponding second marker type on theworking pot 250, adding to one or more all-in pots from a plurality ofactive players and the plurality of active players bets 260 anddetermining if there are any more additional all-in players 270.

The completing step 210 can include betting for any poker game. Thefirst determining step 220 includes if the round of betting is the lastround of betting 221. If it is not the last round of betting anadditional completing step 210 is performed. If it is the last round ofbetting, it is then determined if there is a working pot 222. If thereis a working pot, the working pot is awarded 223. If there is not aworking pot it is determined if there are any all-in pots 224. If thereare no all-in pots, the game is ended 228. If there are any all in pots,the all-in pot with the highest number is awarded 225 and the all-inmarkers from the players and the all-in pot are recovered 226. If thereare any more all-in pots they are awarded to the all-in pot with thehighest number as well 227. The having step 230 includes the step if twoor more players are all-in with an exact same amount, the two or moreplayers are each given a marker and the markers are placed on the potthe players are playing to win 231.

If there is a working pot after the having step 230 the marker is placedon the working pot and the working pot becomes the all-in pot 250. Thispot becomes a last pot that the all-in player is playing for 242. Thispot also includes additional all-in pots from each of the active players243. If there are more all-in players 270, the having step 230 isrepeated. If there are not more all-in players, any remaining betsbecome a new working pot 280 and the last round betting step 221 isrepeated. If there is not a working pot after the having step 230, acorresponding marker is placed where the all-in pot is 232. This all-inpot is the last pot that the all-in player is playing to win 242.Additionally, all of the all-in players are playing to win the pot withtheir corresponding markers and other additional pots with lowernumbered markers 243. After the placing step 250, the last pot playingto win step 242 is repeated. The all-in amount from each of the activeplayers is added to the all-in pot 260. If there are more all-in players270, the having step 230 is repeated. If there are not any more all-inplayers remaining bets are a new working pot 280 and the last roundbetting step 221 is repeated.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferredembodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatusillustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. An apparatus to track one or more all-in bets in a game with astandard deck of playing cards, comprising: a set of at least a firstmarker and a second marker; the first marker of the set of markers toidentify an all-in pot a player is playing to win; the second marker ofthe set of markers to identify the player that is playing to win theall-in pot; and at least one additional identifier on the first andsecond markers of the set to indicate that they are related to eachother.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the as least one similaridentifier is a number.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstmarkers are approximately equal size.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second markers are approximately equal size.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein there are at least two of the markers inthe set of markers.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set ofmarkers are approximate in size and shape to one or more chips beingused to place the one or more bets in the pot.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein there are an equal number of the sets of markers as there areof the players less one of the sets.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein each of the set of markers has an identifier with a differentvalue.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game is poker.
 10. Amethod for tracking an all-in playing card game, comprising the stepsof: completing a round of betting; determining if one or more bettingplayers are one or more all-in players; placing a first marker type andany subsequent first marker types in front of the one or more all-inplayers with a smallest bet; determining if there is a working pot;placing a second marker type on the working pot making it a one or moreall-in pot; adding to the one or more all-in pot an amount of one ormore all-in bets from a plurality of active players and the plurality ofactive players bets; and determining if there are any more additional ofthe one or more all-in players.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereindetermining if the one or more betting players are the one or moreall-in players includes the round of betting that is a last round ofbetting.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the last round of bettingincludes the working pot and the one or more all-in pots.
 13. The methodof claim 10, wherein the one or more all-in pots with a highest numberare awarded and the all-in marker types from the players and the one ormore all-in pot are recovered.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein thehaving step includes two or more of the players are all-in with an exactsame amount and the two or more players are each given one of the markertypes.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the marker types are placedon the pot the players are playing to win.
 16. The method of claim 10,wherein the placing step includes creating the one or more all-in potwithout the working pot.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein determiningif there is the working pot includes the marker type is placed on theworking pot.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein the working pot becomesa last pot that the one or more all-in players are playing to win. 19.The method of claim 10, wherein the working pot includes one or moreadditional one or more all-in pots from each of the plurality of activeplayers.
 20. The method of claim 10, wherein all of the one or moreall-in players are playing to win the pot with the marker types andother additional pots with one or more lower numbered marker types.